By Emily Parker, Catological.com
Maybe it’s always been this way, but it seems that over the past decade or two, so many of our days are filled with a huge assortment of stressors.
From job responsibilities to make sure your family is happy to the constant barrage of social media notifications, it can feel like outside stimulus never stops.
Because of this, many people develop health problems that can impact their lives in negative ways. To combat this, one of the best things you can do is actually quite simple: get a cat.
With so much on your mind, you probably have trouble sleeping. But if you have a cat in bed with you, chances are you’ll get plenty of sound, restful sleep. According to researchers, people who have kitties sleeping with them at night are twice as likely to get a good night’s sleep than be bothered by their cat’s presence. This is probably thanks to the calming nature of the cat’s purring, along with its physical presence and relaxed demeanor, all of which rubs off on its pet parent.
And if you suffer from mild or moderate depression, having a cat in your life will help lift your spirits. By watching your cat run around the house playing, having it curl up in your lap while watching television, or simply sitting on a couch giving it the adoration it naturally deserves, researchers have found your mood will improve just as much as if you had been spending time with a spouse or best friend.
Physiologically, the stressors in your life may be causing you to suffer from such health problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other related ailments. However, if you own a cat, you may find these conditions will lessen or possibly even go away.
According to research studies, cat owners are found to be far less likely to suffer from these conditions. And for those who do and then decide to make kitties part of their lives, research has indicated they may find their blood pressure and cholesterol levels getting substantially lower. In fact, some people show such improvements that they are able to decrease or even eliminate their medications.
These are just a few of the 20+ ways that cats help us live happier, healthier lives. Check out the infographic below, or read the original article on Catological here to learn them all!